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Difference between revisions of "William Francis Cohn"

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==War Service==
 
==War Service==
Soon after entering camp, William was allocated to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion.
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Although William signed his enlistment document on 23 Feb 1916 he did not enter camp until 22 Mar 1916 when he was placed in the 50th Depot Company to commence his training. On 12 Apr 1916, William was allocated to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, and he travelled with them to England.  
 
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Having completed his training with the 4th Training Battalion at Rollestone in England on 19 Nov 1916, he was transferred to Codford to await travel to France.  During his training he had one AWOL period of two days.
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On arrival he was sent to the 4th Training Battalion at [[Rollestone]] camp to prepare for France. Having completed his training on 19 Nov 1916, he was transferred to Codford to await travel to France.  During his training he had one AWOL period of two days.
 
    
 
    
William proceeded to France on 21 Dec 1916 via Folkestone on the SS Princess Clementine.  He joined the 16th Battalion on the 2 Jan 1917 on the day that they marched from Cardonnette to Ribemount for unit level rebuild and retraining.
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William proceeded to France on 21 Dec 1916 via Folkestone on the [[SS Princess Clementine]].  He joined the 16th Battalion on the 2 Jan 1917, the day that they marched from Cardonnette to Ribemount for a period of unit level rebuilding and retraining.
 
    
 
    
 
He was one of the many Australians captured at Riencourt during the disastrous attack on Bullecourt on 11 Apr 1917, and was eventually interned at Gef Minden and Gef Angenenlager camps in  Germany.
 
He was one of the many Australians captured at Riencourt during the disastrous attack on Bullecourt on 11 Apr 1917, and was eventually interned at Gef Minden and Gef Angenenlager camps in  Germany.
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<blockquote>"Missing 11.4.17" Prisoner of War - Interned at Gef Minden, certified by Post-Card received from '''A.J. Carter'''; 19.4.17. Transferred Dulmen, advised by postcard from Bill; transferred to Munster from Dulmen, again certified by postcard from Bill who also asked "Obliged if you could inform my wife that I am in good health. Her address is - Armadale, West Australia." Arrived Hull 5-12-18 certified by List from AIF Hqters<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1041054 |title=Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - William Francis Cohn |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2018|website=Australian War Memorial |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref>.</blockquote>   
 
<blockquote>"Missing 11.4.17" Prisoner of War - Interned at Gef Minden, certified by Post-Card received from '''A.J. Carter'''; 19.4.17. Transferred Dulmen, advised by postcard from Bill; transferred to Munster from Dulmen, again certified by postcard from Bill who also asked "Obliged if you could inform my wife that I am in good health. Her address is - Armadale, West Australia." Arrived Hull 5-12-18 certified by List from AIF Hqters<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1041054 |title=Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - William Francis Cohn |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2018|website=Australian War Memorial |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref>.</blockquote>   
  
Repatriated via Hull, arriving at Ripon on 3 Dec 1918, and subsequently attached to AIF Administration Headquarters in London from 14 Jan 1919.  He requested that his discharge not occur until the functions of his unit are no longer required.
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Repatriated via Hull, he arrived at Ripon on 3 Dec 1918, and subsequently was attached to AIF Administration Headquarters in London from 14 Jan 1919.  He requested that his discharge not occur until the functions of his unit are no longer required.
 
    
 
    
Discharged in the UK on 22 Nov 1919 at his own request, and with his wife in Australia's concurrence.
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Discharged in the UK on 22 Nov 1919 at his own request, and with his wife in Australia's concurrence.
  
 
Answering the Call ..Fit for Service ..W.F. Cohn;, Kelmscott<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80897727 |title=ANSWERING THE CALL. |newspaper=[[The Daily News]] |volume=XXXV, |issue=12,805 |location=Western Australia |date=23 February 1916 |accessdate=30 May 2017 |page=6 (THIRD EDITION) |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>   
 
Answering the Call ..Fit for Service ..W.F. Cohn;, Kelmscott<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80897727 |title=ANSWERING THE CALL. |newspaper=[[The Daily News]] |volume=XXXV, |issue=12,805 |location=Western Australia |date=23 February 1916 |accessdate=30 May 2017 |page=6 (THIRD EDITION) |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>   
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Returned to Guernsey to take over his parent's vegetable and flower growing business.
 
Returned to Guernsey to take over his parent's vegetable and flower growing business.
  
He is most likely the W.F. Cohu listed on the Kelmscott obelisk (Army records confuse the spelling Cohu and Cohn), and the W Cohue on the Armadale face of the Armadale obelisk.  No records of any Cohue exist and the only Cohu listed is W.F. Cohn.     
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He is most likely the W.F. Cohu listed on the original Kelmscott obelisk (Army records confuse the spelling Cohu and Cohn), and the W Cohue on the Armadale face of the Armadale obelisk.  No records of any Cohue exist and the only Cohu listed is W.F. Cohn.     
 
    
 
    
 
William (42), along with wife Rhoda Sophia (44) and sons Frederick (16), and Harold Frank (14), travelled to Australia aboard the P&O Steamship '''SS Ballarat''' from London, leaving on 24 Oct 1930 for Fremantle.  William's occupation is given as 'grower', and their address as Landes, du Marshe, Vale, Guernsey. Australia is given as their intended permanent address.
 
William (42), along with wife Rhoda Sophia (44) and sons Frederick (16), and Harold Frank (14), travelled to Australia aboard the P&O Steamship '''SS Ballarat''' from London, leaving on 24 Oct 1930 for Fremantle.  William's occupation is given as 'grower', and their address as Landes, du Marshe, Vale, Guernsey. Australia is given as their intended permanent address.

Revision as of 20:39, 2 February 2019

William Francis Cohn
Cohn William Francis.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 8 May 1890
Place of Birth Channel Islands, England
Death unknown
"unknown" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.
Place of Death unknown
Age at Enlistment 26 years, 9 months
Description 5' 5" (1.65m) tall ; 120 lbs
54.431 kg
; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown, slightly grey hair
Occupation Storekeeper's assistant
Religion Church of England
Address Albany road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin Wife , Mrs Rhoda Sophia Cohn
Military Information
Reg Number 6002
Date of Enlistment 22 Mar 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 16th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation 9 Aug 1916 ‒ 25 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A28 Miltiades
Fate Prisoner of War 11 APr 1917 1st Bullecourt
Discharged in UK at own request
Monument Armadale War Memorial (Armadale panel)
Kelmscott War Memorial (West panel)
Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

William married Rhoda Sophia Dawson in the Canning district during 1912. While Bill was overseas with the AIF his wife moved to live in Prospect road, Armadale.

War Service

Although William signed his enlistment document on 23 Feb 1916 he did not enter camp until 22 Mar 1916 when he was placed in the 50th Depot Company to commence his training. On 12 Apr 1916, William was allocated to the 19th reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, and he travelled with them to England.

On arrival he was sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Rollestone camp to prepare for France. Having completed his training on 19 Nov 1916, he was transferred to Codford to await travel to France. During his training he had one AWOL period of two days.

William proceeded to France on 21 Dec 1916 via Folkestone on the SS Princess Clementine. He joined the 16th Battalion on the 2 Jan 1917, the day that they marched from Cardonnette to Ribemount for a period of unit level rebuilding and retraining.

He was one of the many Australians captured at Riencourt during the disastrous attack on Bullecourt on 11 Apr 1917, and was eventually interned at Gef Minden and Gef Angenenlager camps in Germany.

"Missing 11.4.17" Prisoner of War - Interned at Gef Minden, certified by Post-Card received from A.J. Carter; 19.4.17. Transferred Dulmen, advised by postcard from Bill; transferred to Munster from Dulmen, again certified by postcard from Bill who also asked "Obliged if you could inform my wife that I am in good health. Her address is - Armadale, West Australia." Arrived Hull 5-12-18 certified by List from AIF Hqters[1].

Repatriated via Hull, he arrived at Ripon on 3 Dec 1918, and subsequently was attached to AIF Administration Headquarters in London from 14 Jan 1919. He requested that his discharge not occur until the functions of his unit are no longer required.

Discharged in the UK on 22 Nov 1919 at his own request, and with his wife in Australia's concurrence.

Answering the Call ..Fit for Service ..W.F. Cohn;, Kelmscott[2]

301st Casualty List - Missing W.F. Cohn, Kelmscott[3]

PRISONERS OF WAR...Wm. Francis Cohn, Kelmscott, previously reported missing...[4]


Post War

Returned to Guernsey to take over his parent's vegetable and flower growing business.

He is most likely the W.F. Cohu listed on the original Kelmscott obelisk (Army records confuse the spelling Cohu and Cohn), and the W Cohue on the Armadale face of the Armadale obelisk. No records of any Cohue exist and the only Cohu listed is W.F. Cohn.

William (42), along with wife Rhoda Sophia (44) and sons Frederick (16), and Harold Frank (14), travelled to Australia aboard the P&O Steamship SS Ballarat from London, leaving on 24 Oct 1930 for Fremantle. William's occupation is given as 'grower', and their address as Landes, du Marshe, Vale, Guernsey. Australia is given as their intended permanent address.

Notes

Name incorrectly spelt on both memorials - Cohu on Kelmscott's, and Cohue on Armadale's.

References

  1. "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - William Francis Cohn". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018. 
  2. "ANSWERING THE CALL.". The Daily News. XXXV, (12,805). Western Australia. 23 February 1916. p. 6 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  3. "MISSING.". The Daily News. XXXVI, (13,187). Western Australia. 21 May 1917. p. 5 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  4. "PRISONERS OF WAR.". The Daily News. XXXVI, (13,207). Western Australia. 16 June 1917. p. 8 (THIRD EDITION). Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

External Links